medal

1 of 2

noun

med·​al ˈme-dᵊl 

1

: a small usually metal object bearing a religious emblem or picture

2

: a piece of metal often resembling a coin and having a stamped design that is issued to commemorate a person or event or awarded for excellence or achievement

medal

2 of 2

verb

medaled also medalled; medaling also medalling

ˈmed-liŋ, 

ˈme-dᵊl-iŋ 

intransitive verb

: to win a medal

medaled in figure skating

Synonyms of medal

Noun

• decoration
• insignia
• trophy
• medallion

Examples of medal in a Sentence

Noun

He was awarded a medal for his heroism.

the display case held an impressive array of military medals from World War II

Verb

She medaled in figure skating in the Olympics.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Now a high schooler at Phillips Academy, a boarding school in Massachusetts, Jung has actualized his vision to keep his grandparents safe on crosswalks − and has a medal and $6,000 to show for it. — Madeline Mitchell, USA Today, 25 June 2026

Though still under the radar for many American drinkers, Alto Adige quietly turns out some of Italy’s most consistently impressive bottles, with a track record of top medals in major competitions. — Joseph V Micallef, Forbes.com, 25 June 2026

Verb

Despite dominating her sport this decade, Shiffrin had failed to medal at the 2022 Beijing Olympics. — Sean Gregory, Time, 9 June 2026

Italy’s national team was mediocre at the time, failing to medal at the Olympics in 1920 and 1924. — Albert Samaha, New Yorker, 30 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle French medaille, from Old Italian medaglia coin worth half a denarius, medal, from Vulgar Latin *medalis half, alteration of Late Latin medialis middle, from Latin medius — more at mid

First Known Use

Noun

circa 1578, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1979, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing medal

• bronze medal
• deserve a medal
• gold medal
• medal play
• scapular medal
• service medal
• silver medal
• soldier's medal

Rhymes for medal

• bedell
• heddle
• meddle
• pedal
• peddle
• wedel
• bipedal
• intermeddle

Kids Definition

medal

noun

med·​al

ˈmed-ᵊl

: a piece of metal often in the form of a coin with design and words in honor of a special event, a person, or an achievement